Christian's on the Water: Full Guide to Bay Pines' Best Tiki Bar
Everything you need to know about Christian's on the Water at Bay Pines Marina — menu, tiki bar, how to get there by boat or bike, and the story behind the name.
On the map
The exact spot — handy for figuring out which neighborhood you're really in.
Every time I drive Ulmerton Road out toward Seminole, I pass the turnoff for Bay Pines Marina and think: that spot deserves something great. For a while, it had the Harbor Master Tiki Grille — a casual, no-fuss waterfront fixture that locals loved. Then Hurricane Helene hit in 2024, the old spot took damage, and it never came back.
Now it has something better.
The Harbor Master Tiki Grille may have never reopened after Hurricane Helene, but a brand new concept has taken its place: Christian's on the Water, an outdoor restaurant and tiki bar overlooking Bay Pines Marina, at 4999 Harbor Lights Drive in Seminole.
It soft-opened in May 2026, and based on everything I've heard around the market, it's already becoming one of the most-talked-about spots on the Pinellas waterfront this summer.
Here's everything you need to know before you go.
The Story Behind the Name
This one actually matters.
The concept is the newest venture from Marc DeRusso, owner of DeRusso's Pizzeria in Tierra Verde and St. Pete.
Marc is a hospitality lifer —
his first restaurant, Bourbon Street Grill in Colonie, NY, has been open for 27 years.
He knows what he's doing.
But the name hits differently.
DeRusso named Christian's on the Water after his late son Christian, and its soft opening coincided with the anniversary of his son's passing. He said he hopes "the business will not only provide great food, drinks and hospitality but will serve as a living tribute" for his son.
That kind of intention tends to show up in how a place is run. Worth knowing when you walk in.
The Tiki Bar: What to Expect
This is an outdoor venue through and through —
Bay Pines Marina is located in Seminole, near St. Petersburg, with direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico.
The setting is legitimately beautiful.
Over five months, DeRusso made upgrades including new furniture, air-conditioned portable bathrooms, renovations to a 22-seat tiki bar and shaded dining area, as well as landscaping improvements such as Adirondack chairs and cornhole.
So yes — there's actual shade, actual seating, and somewhere to put your drinks while you're tossing bags.
Live acoustic music is scheduled seven days a week alongside a small retail area selling branded merchandise.
Seven days a week. That's commitment.
Drinks-wise,
Christian's on the Water offers beer, wine, and frozen, wine-based cocktails, including margaritas.
It's a relaxed, drink-what-you-want-by-the-water vibe — not a craft cocktail bar with a 12-page menu, and that's completely the point.
The Menu: Coastal and Casual
A new 20-foot food trailer serves what DeRusso describes as "coastal-inspired" dishes.
While DeRusso's other restaurants focus on pizza, Christian's on the Water offers a range of casual dishes, including grouper sandwiches, peel-and-eat shrimp, smoked fish spread, smash burgers, and rice bowls topped with pulled pork, beef, or chicken.
The detail I keep telling people about:
the restaurant also plans to offer a "hook and cook" service, allowing fishermen to bring their catch to be grilled or fried.
If you're pulling in off the Intracoastal with a cooler full of snook, that's a pretty great afternoon.
Once fully operational, Christian's on the Water plans to launch weekend breakfast service starting at 9 am on Saturdays and Sundays, offering egg bowls and breakfast sandwiches.
Weekend morning boat launch fuel — that checks out.
Getting There: Three Ways In
This is one of those rare spots with real multi-modal access.
By car: Head to 4999 Harbor Lights Drive, Seminole. Parking is available at the marina.
By bike:
The restaurant is accessible by bicycle due to its proximity to The Pinellas Trail.
If you're riding the Trail through Seminole, this is a legitimate mid-ride stop with cold drinks and waterfront views.
By boat:
The restaurant is accessible by boat using a dozen available slips for customers.
Pull up, tie off, eat a grouper sandwich. That's the Tampa Bay lifestyle in one sentence.
Why This Matters for the Seminole/Bay Pines Area
Spots like Christian's on the Water do something subtle but real for a neighborhood. They create a reason to linger — to spend a Saturday afternoon somewhere local instead of driving to the beach. The Seminole/Bay Pines stretch of Pinellas doesn't have a ton of walkable, water-adjacent hangout options, and this fills that gap genuinely well.
For buyers considering that corridor — Seminole, the Bay Pines area, the neighborhoods tucked between Largo and St. Pete — quality-of-life amenities like this actually move the needle. I track what opens (and what stays open) along these pockets because it tells me a lot about where neighborhood momentum is building. If you're curious how that translates to home values in the area, the Seminole vs. Largo comparison guide is a good starting point, and I'm always happy to walk through it with you directly.
Christian's on the Water is at 4999 Harbor Lights Drive, Seminole. Open daily. Live music seven days a week. Go before everyone else figures out it's there.